Fresh rain breaks sweltering heat spell

Moderate to heavy showers with thunder and lightning bring mercury down

KARACHI:

The megacity on Monday received moderate to heavy rains with thunder and lightning.

Strong winds blew at a speed of 54km per hour during the rain.

The cause of this spell of rain was the low air pressure over Indian Gujarat and moisture from the Arabian Sea.

Dark clouds blanketed the city before the rain breaking the hot spell of weather. The highest rainfall was recorded at Old Airport at 32.2mm.

Rain is expected to continue on Tuesday (today).

The weather became pleasant as mercury dropped. The Meteorological Department had predicted light to moderate rain with thunder in the city. Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Super Highway, Scheme 33 and Malir were the first to receive showers which later spread to other areas of the city including Mehmoodabad, Saddar, Bahadurabad, Tariq Road, FC Area, Gurumandir, Gizri, University Road, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Azizabad Defence, Sharea Faisal and Keamari.

According to Meteorological Department, the highest rainfall was recorded at Old Airport with 32.2mm followed by University Road 28.3mm, PAF Base Faisal 25mm, PAF Base Masroor 24mm, Gulshan-e-Hadeed 23mm, Quaidabad 17.5mm, Jinnah Terminal 13.2mm, and Keamari received 11.5mm rain. Sarjani Town received 10.6mm, Saadi Town 10.4mm, DHA Phase II 8.7mm and Korangi 3.4mm. The lowest rainfall was recorded in Nazimabad at 3.2mm.

After the showers heat subsided and the weather turned pleasant.

According to Chief Meteorologist, Karachi, Sardar Sarfaraz, the low pressure near Gujarat (India) had weakened earlier but later gained strength. Due to the moisture received from the Arabian Sea in the same system and the heat during the day, cells (clouds) were formed between Karachi and Thatta, due to which there was medium and heavy rain in some places.

He says that today (Tuesday) too, there is a possibility of heavy rain in the city. According to Sardar Sarfraz, the depression, formed in the Bay of Bengal, is present over central India, which is likely to stop over Rajasthan. However, as a result of its effects, there will be a possibility of rain with thunder in various districts of Eastern Sindh.

Due to the sudden rain in the city, citizens faced problems of accumulation of water on Shehzad Khalil Avenue Road, Nipa, II Chandragarh Road, University Road, PIDC Road, New MA Jinnah Road and various areas. The fresh spell of rain disrupted traffic flow, leading to traffic jams on several roads.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2022.